The Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety (“Advocates”) recently released their 2012 Roadmap to State Highway Safety Laws. Pennsylvania earned the Advocates middle rating of yellow.

The yellow rating indicates that while Pennsylvania has some positive traffic safety laws there are still numerous gaps in the state’s highway safety laws. Specifically, the Advocates recommend that Pennsylvania pass the following nine highway safety laws:

• Primary enforcement seatbelt law.
• Motorcycle helmet law for all riders.
• Booster seat law for children through age seven.
• Graduated Driver’s License Law that has stronger nighttime restrictions.
• Graduated Driver’s License Law that has stronger cell phone restrictions.
• Graduated Driver’s License Law that establishes age 18 as the age for an unrestricted license.
• Ignition interlock for all offenders.
• Child endangerment law.
• Mandatory blood alcohol content (BAC) test law for drivers who survive.

As personal injury attorneys in PA, as drivers, and as family members we support many of the Advocates suggestions. Do you support them? Please leave us a comment and let us know.

As your family mourns the loss of a loved one, you may begin to wonder about your financial future and about whether an accidental death lawyer may be able to help you. Generally, an accidental death lawyer may be able help you recover damages after a loved one’s death if someone else’s negligent or intentional acts were the cause of your loved one’s death.

More specifically, you might want to contact a wrongful death lawyer after a death caused by a:

• Motor vehicle accident. (This includes collisions between cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, pedestrians and bicyclists.)
• Drunk driving accident.
•  Medical malpractice.
• Occupational illness.
• Workplace accident.
• Dangerous prescription drug.
• Defective product.

To learn more about your potential rights after the loss of a loved one, please contact a wrongful death lawyer. Philadelphia lawyers who are knowledgeable about wrongful death and compassionate about the losses suffered by families will offer you a free consultation so that you can learn more about your rights and potential recovery.

Traffic. If you commute in an urban area then traffic is the equivalent of a four letter word. It slows you down and takes time away from work and family. It is undeniably a problem that deserves attention.

However, a recent AAA study found that traffic, while annoying and expensive, costs much less than accidents.  In the metro Philadelphia area, for example, accidents were estimated to cost $8,722,000,000 in 2009. In comparison, traffic in the metro Philadelphia was estimated to cost $3,274,000,000.

Neither number is negligible. Both accidents and traffic deserve the attention of state policymakers and transportation officials. However, as a lawyer for accident victims I can’t help but notice that the cost of accidents is significantly larger. That is consistent with what I hear from my clients. While traffic is frustrating, it does not bring with it the physical and emotional pain of an accident.  Thus, as future transportation priorities are identified and road plans approved, it is important to keep safety in mind, as well as traffic flow.

Recently, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) unanimously issued an important recommendation. Together, the five member board recommended that all phone use by drivers be prohibited except in emergencies. That includes hands free devices.

While the NTSB recommendations are not binding and the NTSB does not have the legal authority to enact laws or regulations, the NTSB recommendations do carry great weight with those who are in a position to pass laws and promulgate regulations.

As an accidental death lawyer, I see the appeal of such a broad prohibition on the use of phones by drivers. However, I expect that such a law will be difficult to pass and, if passed, to enforce.

Do you think state or federal lawmakers will make changes based on the NTSB recommendations? Would you support such changes? Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

As a Reading personal injury lawyer I certainly understand the allure of an electric car. Gas is expensive. The environment is a concern. Driving an electric car seems like the right thing to do.

However, before you purchase an electric car it is important to be aware of the potential safety hazards that you may face. Specifically, you should be aware that the batteries used in electric cars may create a potential fire hazard in some models.

Whether you hurt in a vehicle fire or another type of crash, you may be entitled to damages if someone else, whether it is the car manufacturer or another driver, caused your injuries. For more information, please contact me today to discuss your case.